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| There are two memorials for Dave Sands in his home town of ], near ]; another memorial situates at ] in ]. There is also a memorial rest park near ] where the fatal ] crash took place. | There are two memorials for Dave Sands in his home town of ], near ]; another memorial situates at ] in ]. There is also a memorial rest park near ] where the fatal ] crash took place. | ||
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Revision as of 04:10, 17 October 2009
Dave Sands, born David Ritchie, (4 February 1926–11 August 1952, age 26) was an Australian Aborigine boxer. He was born into the Dunghutti tribe. He was a middleweight, but held the Australian Light-Heavyweight and Heavyweight Championship titles at the same time. He was also a Commonwealth Middleweight champion, winning the title from Randy Turpin's brother Dick.
Dave Sands and Les Darcy are considered the two outstanding boxers in Australian history. Both were middleweights and both held the heavyweight title as well. They also both died at tragically early ages. Sands died in a truck accident near Dungog, New South Wales, at age 26 and was rated the # 3 Middleweight contender in the World behind Champion Sugar Ray Robinson.
Dave came from a large family of boxers, who all took the name Sands as their boxing name. There were six brothers of whom Dave was fourth. He also had a nephew who became a welterweight champion.
Referred to as "Australia's dapper, dark-skinned, dreamy-eyed boxing enigma.", trounced Dick Turpin in 165 seconds to win the Mpire title. The fight was considred one of the most sensational ever seen in Britain. Followibg the fight, the referee congratulated Sands, saying "Good fight, son but give me something to do next time."
At the time of his death Sands record stood at 97 wins (62 by KO), 10 losses, a draw and 2 no-contests from 110 fights.
There are two memorials for Dave Sands in his home town of Stockton, near Newcastle, New South Wales; another memorial situates at Glebe in Sydney. There is also a memorial rest park near Dungog where the fatal truck crash took place.
References
- The Advertiser (Adelaide), "Dave Sands Wins Empire Title in 165 Seconds", 8 September 1949, p. 12
Reference sources
Pictures held and digitised as part of the Arnold Thomas boxing collection by the National Library of Australia
- Dave Sands, Empire and Australian Middleweight Champion and Tom Maguire, trainer
- British Empire title bout, Dave Sands, 11 st. 5 lb., K.O. Dick Turpin, 11 st. 3 3/4 lb., in the first round at Harringay Arena, England, September 6th 1949
- Dave Sands (left), 11 st. 7 3/4 lb. v. Henry Brimm, 11 st. 5 1/2 lb., at Rushcutter's Bay Stadium, 8 August 1950